750 billion sounds like an astronomical figure, but in comparison, it wouldn't even be enough money to support the War on Terror since 9/11. And that is just specific money for the war, not the overall defense budget. But with smart spending, the government could stimulate the economy enough and get people to stop worrying.
The capitalist system is pretty simple, it needs to constantly expand to create new jobs; otherwise the economy enters a recession, depression or some other down turn. The formula is basic; new jobs=happy economy. But it's difficult to come up with new jobs. We saw a creation of a new job market in the 80's with development of a Cold War military and in the 90's with the internet. America needs something new to stimulate the economy and I have the answer.
Go green. There are millions of potential jobs out there if the government mandated that people and business's went green. The fear all along has been that saving the environment would destroy the economy since it would increase costs. The idiots who had that idea are the ones who put us in this position. Just think of the number of jobs required to recycle. In Germany, they only pick up your trash every other week and the container they give you is probably smaller than your kitchen waste basket. But it actually isn't a problem. They give you another container for paper, one for bio-degradable and another for plastics and packaging. All of which are much larger than the residual trash can. And it's not just the individual who is required to recycle; companies have to do the same thing.
The next step in going green would be to force companies to abide by strict emission standards. This has been the biggest hang up since companies claim that costs would soar and prices would rise out of control. The simple answer is this, if goods that are imported into the US don't meet the production standards established, and then enforce a stricter tariff on those goods. That will help level the playing field between the US and overseas manufactures plus it would create jobs by requiring either the government or private industry to ensure goods are manufactured in a way that isn't severely damaging the environment.
Next, the US needs to create alternative energy sources, either by wind, sun or possibly nuclear. There are wind and solar power plants all over the place in Germany and you know what, it isn't an eye sore. Even modern wind mills are very peaceful looking. We have some that are literally in our back yard and not once have I ever said that it ruins the landscape. Acid rain destroyed forests and smoke stacks destroy the landscape much more than wind mills and solar panels.
The final step would be to mandate different farming and food processing standards. McDonalds has ruined the way that Americans get their food. Long gone are the days of a single farmer selling his cows to a butcher, a skillful butcher carving the beef to be freshly delivered to the market. Now, huge corporations hire the cheapest labor possible and mass produce food in the least sanitary, borderline disgusting way possible. Thousands of jobs would be produced if a few criteria were established. First, increase the minimum square footage required by each animal. If you've ever looked into a chicken or turkey farm, you understand what I mean. Those birds are stacked on top of each other. By increasing the required space, you'll be less likely to eat a chicken that has survived on it's of feces for the last 2 years. Second, mandate much stricter control over food processing. I'd eat happier knowing that the guy who cut my steak actually knew a little bit about cows. Third, restrict the amount and type of steroids and antibiotics that are given to livestock. Finally, require that all cattle be grain fed. Cows don't naturally eat corn, so why do we feed it to them? All of these steps would increase food costs, but that is long overdue. It will reinvigorate the farming industry and would allow the government to stop subsidizing it to death.
Overall, the government needs to change its mentality from keeping costs low, to providing jobs. The costs will take care of themselves. If something costs too much, people won't buy it and businesses will still find a way to meet the needs of the people. Eating a quarter pounder twice a day isn't a right guaranteed by the constitution.
